While we certainly love booking spontaneous, last-minute adventures, there’s something to be said for those once-in-a-lifetime trips that require months of planning and preparation.
You know, those ambitious adventures in hard-to-reach places; those epic, bucket list-worthy trips; and those in-demand tours and specialty experiences.
If you have your heart set on a holiday like this — whether it’s an expedition of epic proportions or a big family adventure — now is the perfect time to get the ball rolling on that future getaway you’ve been dreaming about.
You might not be able to start packing your suitcase just yet, but you can score the best early booking deals and relish all the benefits that come with planning and anticipating the trip of a lifetime (hello pre-trip happiness boost!).
Here are six trips you should research, plan, and book a year in advance.
- Inca Trail
- Antarctica
- The Galpagos Islands
- African safari
- Gorilla trekking tour
- Multigenerational holiday
1. Hiking the Inca Trail
If a trek along Peru’s iconic Inca Trail is at the top of your travel wish list, it’s best to give yourself ample time to plan.
Since Machu Picchu is a protected area and designated World Heritage Site, the number of daily visitors is limited, and every person who hikes the trail is required to obtain a permit. With limited availability, permits for this world-famous trail are in high demand, and they tend to sell out at least several months to a year in advance.
August and September, in particular, are two of the busiest months, so keep that in mind while you’re in trip-planning mode.
Inca Trail permits are available for purchase online; however, if you’re joining a Machu Picchu tour, your tour company will secure the permit for you.
2. An Antarctica cruise
Advance planning is a must for a once-in-a-lifetime trip like an Antarctica expedition cruise. Not only is capacity limited on Antarctica cruises (most ships that travel to the seventh continent only have between 50 and 100 cabins), but the cruising season is also very short (it generally runs from November to March).
Another reason to book at least a year out? Snagging a desirable cabin — a cabin that’s located toward the middle of the vessel that will be stable when traveling through rough seas — can make your onboard experience that much better. Given their popularity, these types of cabins tend to sell out quickly.
Getting your trip booked early is also important if you want to save on flights. The cost of flights to Ushuaia, Argentina — which is the most popular point of embarkation for Antarctica voyages — increase as you get closer to the departure date.
3. A Galapagos getaway
Dreaming of exploring the Galapagos Islands? This is another designated protected area with strict limitations on visitor numbers, which means it’s best to plan ahead if you’re keen to experience this remote archipelago.
As far as timelines go, starting to plan roughly six to twelve months out is a good rule of thumb, although this will vary depending on the time of year you’d like to visit. (December to January and June to August are some of the busiest months for tourists, while the low season months of September and October allow for more wiggle room).
Once you have specific dates in mind, the next factor to think about is ship vs. shore — would you rather explore the islands by boat, or from a hotel base on land? Generally speaking, you’ll likely be able to cover more ground if you choose to book a cruise.
Lastly, you need to do some research to decide what islands you want to visit, what experiences you want to have, and what animals you want to see. Do you want to snorkel alongside playful sea lions? Do you want to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat? Having an idea of your must-sees will ultimately make it easier to choose the perfect Galapagos itinerary.
4. An African safari
For most travelers, a safari isn’t the type of trip that can be booked on the fly. With several moving parts to consider — from long-haul flights to visas and vaccinations — a dream safari holiday in Africa requires careful planning.
Kick off your trip planning process by asking yourself the following questions: Are there any specific animals I want to see? What time of year can I travel? What type of lodging am I looking for?
And if you’re hoping to get a front-row seat to the extraordinary spectacle that is the Great Migration, you’ll have to consider which destinations to visit and at what time of year. (River crossings tend to occur in July and August, while wildebeest calves are typically born between January and March in the southern Serengeti — what do you most want to see?).
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’ll be much easier to visualise your perfect safari, nail down the specifics, and start looking forward to the trip of a lifetime.
5. A gorilla trekking tour
When it comes to gorilla trekking trips, the sooner you book, the better. More people are traveling to see mountain gorillas in the wild, and with a limited number of permits available for this surreal wildlife experience, booking at least a year in advance ensures you can make this ultimate dream trip a reality.
The competition for permits is especially strong during the peak months between June to September, so if you’re hoping to lock in one of these dates, you’ll want to book as soon as possible.
Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda are two of the premier destinations for a gorilla trekking tour. Both countries offer the opportunity to come face-to-face with these magnificent creatures, but choosing the best destination will ultimately depend on your budget, fitness level, and sense of adventure.
Uganda is best for budget-conscious travelers (permits cost approximately $600 per person per day here, which is less than half of what it costs in Rwanda), while Rwanda is an attractive destination for those wanting shorter treks and luxury accommodation.
6. A multigenerational family holiday
Be it a close-to-home getaway or a big trip abroad, a multigenerational holiday is the perfect excuse for extended families to catch up, spend quality time together, and celebrate special events or occasions.
Planning a holiday for a large number of people is always tricky, especially when you need to consider things like school holidays, work schedules, and varying ages and physical abilities.
The best thing you can do to make the whole process a bit easier? Start planning early so you find travel dates that work for the entire group. After the dates are set in stone, you can dive into specifics like budgets, destinations, accommodations, and activities.
If the thought of coordinating a family vacation feels a tad bit overwhelming, you can always look into tailor-made tours and leave the planning to the pros.
Ready to get your next big adventure locked in? Head over to TourRadar now and start looking forward to the future trip of a lifetime.
